Thomas Washington Tedrick Jr. passed away on August 7, 2011, at home in Hollister, CA.
The only child of Thomas Washington Tedrick Sr. and Esther Tedrick was born on October 21, 1924. Raised in Alameda, CA, he was a good student and athlete. He shared the love of the outdoors with his father who was an avid fisherman and hunter. He attended UC Berkeley after graduating from Alameda High School in the early l940’s World War II interrupted his studies when he entered the military and became a lieutenant in General Pattons’ army in the signal corps in Europe.
After the fall of the Nazi regime, he was sent to be part of the invasion of Japan. The dropping of the atomic bomb ended the invasion and he was shipped back to the States where he resumed his studies at Berkeley, majoring in Electrical Engineering. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Tom earned an MBA in Business Administration at Berkeley and took over the insurance business his father had started. His love of animals and nature led him to the Napa Valley where he purchased 37 acres in Soda Canyon. There he raised exotic birds and animals of all sorts while he continued commuting to the insurance business in Alameda. Eventually Tom retired, sold the business and property and moved to 20 acres on the Applegate River in Oregon where he created a small farm and enjoyed fishing and golfing.
In Oregon Tom met Jwanita Alexander who was conducting a genealogy study. They became friends and eventually married for the last seven years of his life and moved to her home in Hollister where they enjoyed traveling the States and researching family history.
His love of golf, the joy he took at being on Cal’s championship water polo team, the love he had for his fraternity brothers; that he could be tough on the outside but had a heart of gold on the inside; that he enjoyed life to the fullest; loved traveling and water sports; had a great many friends; that he was very fortunate to meet Jwanita all helped to make his life feel blessed and complete as he spent his last years with Jwanita and her family.
Survivors are his wife Jwanita K. Alexander-Tedrick; Thomas Tedrick of Point Richmond, Karla Peterson of Oregon, Christie Peterson of Reno, Daniel Tedrick of Big Sur. Bryan Terry, Nathalie and Jacob Tedrick of Napa; and Marion and Jerry Mahafery of Wyoming; Robert and Natisha Alexander, Anneleisa and Tim Lowry; Lillian, Henry and Benjamin Lowry, John and Carol Alexander; Erin, Dan and Cole Hosler.
He will be missed by all who knew him as a gregarious, strong-willed man who sometimes defied convention but always thought for himself and did what his thought was right.
Friends are invited to a Memorial Service and a Celebration of Life on Friday, August 12th, 2011, beginning at 11:00 A.M. at Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister followed by interment at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery with honors provided by the Hollister Post No. 9242, V.F.W. A reception will follow. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice 25ll Garden Rd., Ste B-200, Monterey 93940 or to Beta Xi Chapter of Kappa Sigma Box 6688, Moraga, CA 94570-6688.
Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
